Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobia’

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

You are putting a lot of credibility in a Facebook rant. They were probably asked once, and because of their heightened sensibilities perhaps there was some confected outrage.

While some QF staff are sub-par, I doubt a CSM would act in such a manner, as they would not have a job.

I suspect there may be an element of truth to the assertion of heightened sensibilities. The two things that stand out for me in the Facebook post were
1. Upset that their daughter had to witness the seat shift debacle. The couple's daughter is aged 2.
2. The OP being reduced to tears onboard. As a family lawyer I would suspect that she has heard/witnessed far worse in her job than seeing repeated requests for her partner to switch seats on an aircraft.


With the benefit of hindsight I think that the seating arrangements onboard should have been handled with kid gloves by the CSM and clearly that didn't happen.
The important thing for QF is to review this incident and learn from it to improve passenger experience. I do not believe that discrimination was a major factor in the seating issues. I think that a simple mistake was made over different surnames and an assumption that the family was mother, daughter and travelling companion. It's likely in the majority of cases that the assumption would be correct.
Sadly for the family and staff the assumption was wrong and the subsequent handling appears to have worsened the situation.

 

[drron]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

Based on personal experience and observation, I have no doubt.

There is also no reason to discount a report on facebook. Sure there might be some hyperbole, but I don't think it didn't happen. Where else are they supposed to get their point across? Social media is probably a good forum to get change initiated quickly.

Unless you have personal experience of that CSM you are just speculating.I could say based on my experience of last Monday's flight on QF that a CSM would never do what's described-just as valid as your experience and just as meaningless.

 

[theblank]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

. Firstly, there's the issue that the FA's attitude was clearly discriminatory in that it viewed her relationship with her partner as less worthy than that of the other, straight couple.

What part of this was "clearly discrimatory"
the lesbians were not harmed, they got to stay in their reserved seats.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

Unless you have personal experience of that CSM you are just speculating.I could say based on my experience of last Monday's flight on QF that a CSM would never do what's described-just as valid as your experience and just as meaningless.

The comment was made that 'no' CSM would behave like that. Not that that particular CSM would not behave in that way. There is evidence to suggest some QF crew members, more so than any other airline crew, have bad days. And no reason to suggest that a CSM is immune from that.

Given we know QF crew can be like that, I have no doubt that it might have indeed been the case here. If the facebook post had been about Japan Airlines, or Singapore Airlines I would absolutely agree that it might have contained more hyperbole than not. But I can't say the same about QF.

Qantas crews can be up there with the best in the world. But consistency is not a strong point.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

What part of this was "clearly discrimatory"
the lesbians were not harmed, they got to stay in their reserved seats.

I'm pretty much of the view that the sexuality of the parents in the family isn't relevant here and don't think mentioning it strengthens your argument to be honest. In fact, quite the reverse.

 

[drron]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

The comment was made that 'no' CSM would behave like that. Not that that particular CSM would not behave in that way. There is plenty of evidence to suggest QF crews, more so than any other airline crew, have bad days. And no reason to suggest that a CSM is immune from that.

Given we know QF crew can be like that, I have no doubt that it might have indeed been the case here. If the facebook post had been about Japan Airlines, or Singapore Airlines I would absolutely agree that it might have contained more hyperbole than not. But I can't say the same about QF.

Ah so now it might have been like that.so obviously it might not have.
Once again we are jumping all over this making sweeping statements without knowing the facts.
In the article everyone seems to overlook this paragraph-

It is understood Ms Hicks was questioned in-flight as cabin crew were using an older version of the passenger seating list, and believed she was in the incorrect seat.

So what if in fact it was the older couple who in fact were separated and wanted to have their seats reinstated.As I said we have pre-allocated our seats,check before we leave for the airport and at checkin find we are separated.These things happen.

 

[NM]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

I have not seen any mention of whether either of the parties were on paid or upgraded tickets or booked into business class in the last hours before departure (last minute booking, moved from another flight, disrupted travel plans etc). But in my experience, when booking as a traveling party (all on one PNR or linked separate PNRs), the QF seating system does a very reliable job at ensuring all members of the party are seated as much as together as is possible. The times when parties are split up is often during an upgrade process or during last minute flight changes (voluntary or otherwise) that is applied after the seating assignments have been "finalised".

It is my opinion, that anyone booked into a flight/cabin at the last minute should be willing to accept whatever seating is available and not demand seating together as a group. It would seem that one of these groups has made last minute changes. But there is no information that I have seen which suggests which group was the last minute change.

As for the group comprising two women and a child, I assume there were at least two different surnames across the three passengers, meaning the manifest would not necessarily make it obvious that they are a traveling group/family. So I can see how a FA might look at the manifest and ask the person across the aisle (if a different surname) if they would move to accommodate a family/group. What we don't know is how such a request as worded and how the response was handled by the FA. The rest is a media beat-up.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

In the article everyone seems to overlook this paragraph-

So what if in fact it was the older couple who in fact were separated and wanted to have their seats reinstated.As I said we have pre-allocated our seats,check before we leave for the airport and at checkin find we are separated.These things happen.

Given the sequence of events, it sounds like the 'old version' of the manifest was created in the short window between when the seats were changed, and then changed back again.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

Given the sequence of events, it sounds like the 'old version' of the manifest was created in the short window between when the seats were changed, and then changed back again.

By the CSM (who was actually Elvis)? Or was it Harold Holt?

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

I do not believe that discrimination was a major factor in the seating issues. I think that a simple mistake was made over different surnames and an assumption that the family was mother, daughter and travelling companion. It's likely in the majority of cases that the assumption would be correct.
Sadly for the family and staff the assumption was wrong and the subsequent handling appears to have worsened the situation.

I hate to disagree with you but the assumption that because it might be true in "a majority of cases" it was safe to act as if it was universally true is precisely the element that is discriminatory.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

I have not seen any mention of whether either of the parties were on paid or upgraded tickets or booked into business class in the last hours before departure (last minute booking, moved from another flight, disrupted travel plans etc). But in my experience, when booking as a traveling party (all on one PNR or linked separate PNRs), the QF seating system does a very reliable job at ensuring all members of the party are seated as much as together as is possible. The times when parties are split up is often during an upgrade process or during last minute flight changes (voluntary or otherwise) that is applied after the seating assignments have been "finalised".

It is my opinion, that anyone booked into a flight/cabin at the last minute should be willing to accept whatever seating is available and not demand seating together as a group. It would seem that one of these groups has made last minute changes. But there is no information that I have seen which suggests which group was the last minute change.

As for the group comprising two women and a child, I assume there were at least two different surnames across the three passengers, meaning the manifest would not necessarily make it obvious that they are a traveling group/family. So I can see how a FA might look at the manifest and ask the person across the aisle (if a different surname) if they would move to accommodate a family/group. What we don't know is how such a request as worded and how the response was handled by the FA. The rest is a media beat-up.

You've really missed the point here. It wasn't these three that made a request to be seated other than where they were allocated. it was the elderly couple.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

There is always some plausible other reason for this sort of treatment. Always.
Trust me, I've heard them all.

 

[theblank]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

I'm pretty much of the view that the sexuality of the parents in the family isn't relevant here and don't think mentioning it strengthens your argument to be honest. In fact, quite the reverse.

I didn't make an arguement. I asked a question.

And considering you made the point, the sexuality of the parents is very relevant, The claim was "clearly discrimatory". And the pair of ladies are claiming homophobia. If they were only sisters, there would be no story.

 

[JohnK]

He probably also replied ... no.

And here in lies the problem.

If you are asking for seat change to sit together then you need to accept compromise and the best way would be to ask people to move forward in cabin not backward. You'll have much better chance of success.

 

[Franky]

Re: Qantas business class passenger accuses airline of ‘blatant homophobi

You've really missed the point here. It wasn't these three that made a request to be seated other than where they were allocated. it was the elderly couple.

Exactly right. The party of three chose their seats to suit their circumstances, and initially were told, not asked, that their seats had been changed. The elderly couple had no choice but to grin and bear it.